Making Video Games Is Not a Dream Job
Working at a video game company might seem like the perfect job, but Bloomberg News reporter Jason Schreier says the reality is far from ideal. “It is not really an industry that treats people well,”…
Category: Podcasts
‘The Left Hand of Darkness’ Is a Sci-Fi Classic
Ursula K. Le Guin’s 1969 novel The Left Hand of Darkness is about a planet where the genetically-engineered inhabitants randomly become male or female for a few days each month. Science fiction professor Lisa Yaszek…
‘Avenue 5’ Is Funny but Needs More Variety
The HBO series Avenue 5 is a sci-fi comedy about a cruise ship that gets knocked off course on its way to Saturn. Humor writer Tom Gerencer was impressed by the show’s witty dialogue. “There…
Turns Out, Spock Is Kinda Bad at Logic
Julia Galef, host of the Rationally Speaking podcast and co-founder of the Center for Applied Rationality, is not impressed with the hyper-rational Vulcans on Star Trek. “Spock is held up as this exemplar of logic…
‘The Dispossessed’ Is Still One of Sci-Fi’s Smartest Books
Ursula K. Le Guin’s 1974 novel The Dispossessed depicts a society with no laws or government, an experiment in “nonviolent anarchism.” Science fiction author Matthew Kressel was impressed by the book’s thoughtful exploration of politics…
It’s Never Been Easier to Make an Adventure Game
In the early years of personal computers, the adventure game genre reigned supreme, exemplified by classic titles such as King’s Quest and The Secret of Monkey Island. Toronto-based artist Julia Minamata grew up playing this…
Yes, Chainmail Is Really Hard to Draw
Denis Loubet was the first artist hired at Origin Systems, where he created dozens of paintings and drawings for the Ultima series of computer role-playing games. Loubet is still active in Ultima fandom, recently painting…
‘Thoughts and Prayers’ Is Clever Sci-Fi About Internet Trolls
The new anthology The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy 2020 includes stories from leading authors such as Victor LaValle, Rebecca Roanhorse, and Charlie Jane Anders. Tobias S. Buckell, whose story “The Galactic Tourist Industrial…
‘Star Trek: Lower Decks’ Is a Lot Better Than You’d Expect
When it comes to ideas for a TV show, a humorous Star Trek cartoon doesn’t necessarily seem like a winner. But screenwriter Rafael Jordan says that the animated series Star Trek: Lower Decks compares favorably…
‘Tenet’ Is a Must-Watch for Action Movie Fans
Christopher Nolan’s Tenet has finally been released on home video, which means the film’s mind-bending time travel story can now be enjoyed in the safety of your residence. Science fiction author Anthony Ha says the…